The Wizards are 21-22 entering Tuesday night's game in Oakland, good enough for the No. 6 spot in the Eastern Conference but leaving them largely irrelevant on the national landscape.

The Warriors are 27-18, putting them No. 6 in the West - as they bask in the glow of Stephen Curry's majestic three-point shots and imminent appearance as an All-Star Game starter. They are one of the league's most potent and entertaining teams, no question.

So will it matter?

As much as it feels like the Warriors are better this season than they were a year ago - Curry and Andrew Bogut healthy, Andre Iguodala in the mix, the spirited 2013 playoff appearance still a fresh memory - they're actually one game worse. They were 28-17 at this point last season.

That team finished 47-35, an impressive turnaround after years of chronic losing. But what really changed everything was the playoffs, and the dynamic way Curry orchestrated a first-round upset of Denver and second-round scare of San Antonio.

This Golden State team is on pace for 49 victories, a notable achievement in the oh-so-rugged West. That might land only the No. 6 seed, again, and a potential opening-round matchup (without home-court advantage) against a team such as Portland.

Put another way: Even if it seems as if the Warriors are taking a step forward this season, they're in genuine danger of taking a step backward in the postseason, when it really counts. Now, given heightened exposure and expectations, a first-round departure would qualify as hugely disappointing.

Maybe it's not entirely fair, but that's the new reality.

More than ever, then, playoff positioning is vital. The Warriors need more from Iguodala and Harrison Barnes. They need more wins against the West's best (Sunday night's victory over Portland was a good start). They need to land the No. 4 seed.